THIS WEEK IN WOMEN'S TENNIS… Upper Iowa will take its 7-6 record on the road this next week as the team heads to sunny Orlando, Florida to face four teams in five days. The Peacocks will begin the trip with an 8 a.m. matchup against Saint Ambrose University (Iowa) on Tuesday, Mar. 11. Then, UIU will face the University of St. Francis (Ill.) on Wednesday at noon. On Thursday, the Peacocks will square off with Stonehill College at 11:30 a.m. The Peacocks will round out the week with a 10:30 a.m. showdown with the University of South Dakota next Friday.

SIZING UP THE COMPETITION… The Fighting Bees of Saint Ambrose – an NAIA competitor – enter Tuesday's matchup with an 8-6 overall record. The Bees will face Saint Scholastica and Stonehill College before they take on the Peacocks. The University of St. Francis is another NAIA school. The Fighting Saints enter their matchup with the Peacocks at 7-6 overall, which includes a 1-2 mark at neutral locations. Meanwhile, Stonehill College has lost just one its eight matches this year and the Skyhawks have won four in a row. Stonehill – a Division II school – will play four other teams before taking on UIU next Thursday. Friday's matchup with the South Dakota Coyotes will be a tough test for UIU despite USD's 2-4 overall record this year. A Division I opponent, the Coyotes will face five teams before taking on UIU next Friday.

LAST WEEK… The Upper Iowa Tennis team was swept by a pair of Division I opponents this past weekend in Waterloo, Iowa. On Friday, the Peacocks fought hard against the University of Northern Iowa, but earned just one upset on the day. Iris Verweij knocked off Jieke Stroobant at #1 singles in three sets. The UIU freshman stole an early 7-6 victory in the first set before Stroobant bounced back with a 6-1 second-set victory. The Amsterdam, Netherlands native rallied in the tie-breaker to earn her 8th victory in singles play this season thanks to a 7-3 win in the third and final set. Unfortunately, Verweij's point was the only point UIU would earn as UNI sealed the 6-1 victory at home. A day later, things didn't get any easier for the Peacocks. UIU took on South Dakota State University and lost every set as the Jacks ran away with the 7-0 victory.

THE IRIS FLOWER… A two-time NSIC Tennis Player of the Week, Iris Verweij has been impressive in 2014. The freshman from the Netherlands holds an 8-2 overall singles record this year and a 6-1 mark in NSIC play. In doubles competition, Verweij boasts a 6-1 NSIC record and a 7-3 overall record. At the beginning of the NSIC season, Verweij played four matches at #2 singles, but has since moved up a spot. She has made her last five appearances at # 1. Furthermore, her seven 6-0 victories in singles competition is a team high.

"SAKI" IT TO ME… Sophomore Saki Kawabata has been neck-and-neck with Verweij for the top spot on UIU's roster. The Japan native also holds a 6-1 NSIC singles record, while coming in at 7-3 overall. In doubles play, she holds a 5-2 NSIC record and a 6-4 cumulative mark. Kawabata has been on a tear lately – she is tied for the team-high with five straight wins in a row.

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SOUNDING OFF
Head Coach Joey Barnes...
 
The Team's Preparation… "Tennis is not always about hitting a tennis ball. It's a mental game – you have to know the balance between thinking too much and not thinking enough. Sometimes, the players who play with non-traditional form get the win. They understand that it's not about the way you hit the ball, it's more about how you think. That's what translates into points and wins. They are determined to hit the ball over the net into the court one more time than their opponent. It's this type of mindset that translates to a winning player."
 
Individually Speaking: Saki Kawabata…"I think Saki has surprised herself with her play this year and she's definitely surprised her opponents. She's a great competitor. I call her my assassin – she's like a ninja out there. Saki is the type of player who works really hard and never complains. I don't think she has reached her peak yet." Iris Verweij…"Iris is one of those players who's determined to be the best. She's determined and she's stubborn. She wants to go out there and compete at her highest level. I think she has improved considerably. When she got here, she was losing in the first round to Division I competition. Now, she's winning those matches." Victoria Kulbokas… "She's just a freshman, but she's growing. Vicky is a very smart and intelligent player. If she runs into an issue on the court she knows how to resolve it. She finds ways to turn a bad situation into a good situation." Kelly Jawkamowski… "Kelly has made a ton of improvements. She's just a freshman, but she has shown her growth and a glimpse of her real potential. By her junior year, she will be a dominating player. She's an analytical type of tennis player. She will analyze the situation then work hard to beat her opponent." Morgan Winnie…"Morgan is a leader for this team off the court. She will make sacrifices to make sure the team can win. She understands what is expected of her and I've seen a lot of progress from her this year." Laura Alvarez… "She's really taken to learning new skills and her overall game has improved significantly. Laura has embraced the concept of being a competitor at this level. When she believes in herself and plays with confidence – that's when she's at her best."
 
On This Week's Trip… "I'm excited to get out in the open air and play some tennis. Orlando is going to be beautiful this time of year and our team is excited. We have to take care of business because there's going to be some strong competition. But I have confidence in my team and it should turn out to be a fun trip."